Table 4 Sample of Leadership Projects Developed during Individual Coaching Sessions

Start a Pregnancy School according to the requirements of the Ghana Health Service

Used the visionary and democratic leadership styles to present a vision and to involve others in its design

Conducted a stakeholder analysis and liaised with other hospitals who have developed a pregnancy school; built a leadership team for the school; presented a plan and timeline; designed a curriculum; collected or created teaching material.

Reduce the inflow of babies into NICU in order to decrease overcrowding and infection

Used the visionary, democratic, and facilitative leadership styles to engage staff in problem solving

Performed a stakeholder analysis and a value stream map to identify unnecessary admissions to the NICU

Ensure that mothers and babies are not separated after Cesarean delivery

Communication and accountability

Brought together three labor and delivery lead staff and the hospital director to coordinate a Babies-with-Mothers initiative for bringing babies to their mothers after a Cesarean delivery

Ensure the availability of hospital gowns such that all staff in the operating theatre wear proper hygienic attire and adhere to established protocols

Role played polite confrontation and exercised the behavior needed to gain compliance with protocol

Mobilized the GARH director and the Deputy Director of Nursing to support the plan, and successfully ensured gowns are consistently available. A meeting was also held with relevant staff to discuss hygienic attire protocols.

Improving availability of emergency supplies

Used the democratic leadership style to improve accountability and communication

Connected the procurement officer with head of finance to develop a system to reduce drug unavailability

Use motivation to manage increased workload and decreased staff numbers to improve efficiency

Used the visionary and democratic leadership style and role playing for decision making, accountability and communication

Made the morning meeting more concise and productive; called a meeting with surgeons towards improving better distribution of cases on morning, night and afternoon shifts;

delegated tasks by sharing monthly night duty replacements among colleagues and handed over leadership of morning meetings by coaching others.

Ensure staff compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the operating theatre

Used the visionary and democratic leadership styles and one-on-one coaching for improved accountability and communication

Organized a meeting of staff and managers, mobilized the hospital director to convey the urgency of the matter and motivated staff to take ownership of the standard operating procedures.

Overcome challenges with noncompliant staff

Used appropriate authority with staff and more empowering leadership styles to inspire staff as warranted by the situation

Invested in a relationship with a midwife who was not complying with protocol, provided compassionate care, and coached her successfully on her attitude towards patients.